Monday, February 24, 2014

“Son of God” and Similar Movies

We already know the main characters, the ruthless traitors,
the sickening torture, and how it all ends, yet Hollywood still keeps on making
films about Jesus Christ. But these film producers are sure of one thing—there will
always be a loyal following for these movies about the life of Jesus. So what
makes Son of God different from the
rest of the pack?

If you were part of the big audience who watched History
Channel’s blockbuster miniseries The
Bible, you are probably familiar with the actors and the cinematography,
because they are one and the same. Remember the popular controversy that Satan
looked a lot like President Obama? Yes, that miniseries, but don’t look forward
to those Satan scenes because they’ve already removed them to avoid a similar
frenzy. Besides the re-edited scenes, there’s also some additional footage in
the movie, which covers the life of Jesus from the Nativity to the
Resurrection.

Another take on Jesus’ life, another way of reliving the New
Testament especially before the start of the Holy Week. And if you’re keen to
watch a marathon of movies similar to Son
of God, here are some remarkable ones that we think are worth a second—third,
fourth—look.

The Passion of the Christ

Mel Gibson’s 2004-movie received rave reviews from the
general audience and multiple awards from critics and award-giving bodies. The
movie successfully attracted people’s attention, which may be because of the
graphic morbid scenes it exposed. Was it exaggerated? Who could say? The Bible
did talk about the significant pain that Jesus endured during his imprisonment
up to his crucifixion. I admittedly only saw this movie once because I couldn’t
take the cruelty that human beings like you and me could impart on other
people.

Jesus

Also known as The
Jesus Film, this movie goes way back 1979 but cable TV is still showing
this movie based on the Bible’s Gospel of Luke in the New Testament. Jesus definitely created waves all over
the world and was translated into different languages—first translation was
into Tagalog for the people in the Philippines, the Asian country with the
highest number of Catholics.

The Great Passion Play

If you’re looking for more than just sitting in the couch
this year, you can watch Jesus’ life in person at the Great Passion Play live in
Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Besides the outdoor play, you can also visit the 67-foot
Christ of the Ozarks, a remarkable sculpture of Jesus and was built by hand. Another
attraction is the Holy Land Tour, a 2-hour interactive Biblical teaching tour
with exhibits and Biblical characters you can meet. Also, don’t miss the Bible
Museum and the Sacred Arts Museum that show a diverse mix of creative mediums
that portray Christ and the life of Christians. You can buy tickets for 2014
season as early as today or you can call them to make group reservations at
800-882-7529. For lodging concerns, I would recommend this quiet and peaceful bed and breakfast for a relaxed mind and soul.

Whatever you decide to do this coming Holy Week, remember
that it’s not just about the entertainment factor, but also on how the
experience benefits us as Christians and as a person.